Well, I don't have a lot of information to share about this item, except that it exists and some nice pictures since I've managed to acquire one.

For the 30th anniversary of the publication of the first Pern story, in 1997, a few promotional/commemorative items were made and sold, such as a special Easton Press edition of Dragonflight. One such item is this watch.

It is essentially a cheap plastic watch, black, very lightweight. It bears the name "Anne McCaffrey" on the top and the text "30 years of the Dragons" arced along on the bottom, with a silhouette of a dragon on the bottom half as well.

I strongly suspect this item was produced in the UK, perhaps at the behest of her UK publisher Transworld. I believe this because the font used for the text is a match to what Transworld used on Anne's books in the 1990s, and the dragon silhouette is a match to the Steve Weston cover of Nerilka's Story, published on Transworld/Corgi editions of the book.

I do not have any information on how many watches were made, what the original purchase price was, or any other useful details. If anyone does know such things, please share!

[Jayru -- is there any chance your Transworld contact could confirm if they did in fact produce/commision the watch, and any further details?]

This is a fantastic find for you Cheryl, I don't think any of us would pass one of these bye if they happen to find one somewhere!!!

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"To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!"

The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

I just got my hands on one of these watches! It is a little bit broken but I have all the parts & should be able to get it fixed.

I actually thought it had gotten lost in the mail as I ordered it over 5 weeks ago. the seller even refunded my money. Anyway it just arrived today and so now I'm going to have to pay the seller again, but It's worth it just to have this cheap, little plastic collectable! I love it!!